News and Highlights:
Walmart Foundation invests in Ohio and West Virginia HI-Y Teens
Read the summary of how Walmart's Teens of Promise strengthens Ohio and West Virginia HI-Y teens.
NEW 2010 Model UN Resolution Book!
The new 2010 Model UN Resolution Book is now availabe online. See it here.
Horseshoe Images - A look back...
We are creating a digital archive of Horseshoe pictures. We hope you can also help us identify people and activities in these pictures. Visit our digital archive and see what you can remember. Pause your cursor over a picture, to see any information we know about the photograph. You will also see an email link below each picture for you to submit your information. Please be as specific as you can in referencing particular people in the photograph etc. Thank you for your assistance and enjoy the pictorial tour of Horseshoe.
Facebook users can vote for us to receive $25,000!
Governor's Youth Opportunity Camps at Horseshoe change lives!
Camp counselor Letters to the Governor highlight the differences for good YOC accomplishes. Sponsorships of every amount give a lasting life changing experience to today's generation.
Sponsor a Kid to Horseshoe
Horseshoe changes lives. Teens, children and our camp counselors find Horseshoe a highlight of their life! Many young people only get this opportunity because they are sponsored to their camp week. Read the impact Horseshoe has on youth in Horseshoe's Children: the Governor's Youth Opportunity Camps, Summer 2009.
What's Cookin'?
Did you attend a program at Camp Horseshoe? Maybe as a camper or for a group event. We are collecting your favorite memories of Horseshoe's Kitchen - your favorite foods, the kitchen staff, and of course pictures! If you have a favorite food, memory of the kitchen/dining hall, or kitchen staff person, please share it with us. We plan to put together a book focusing on Horseshoe's Kitchen available next year. Your memories of the people, or favorite food, or pictures will help us compile this book. Please email with any memories or stories about the food and people at our kitchen. If you would like to share a picture, please attach it to the email also. Please specify the date(s) associated with your information.
Check out the Pictures!
We've placed a large number of pictures on the internet for you to view. Check them out [ View Pictures ].
Donate Online!
The Ohio-West Virginia accepts online donations using PayPal. Just click on the DONATE button below to access the PayPal secure server to process your donation via credit card. Thank you for your support.
Looking for Youth in Government or Model United Nations information?
Check out the HI-Y Resources page and our Event Calendar.
We are now an iGive recipient AND you can support us by using iSearchiGive when surfing the net!
See the details on our Support Our Youth page.
Calling All Alumni
Have you been involved with the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA in the past? Participated in Youth in Government, Model United Nations? Been a camper at Camp Horseshoe? Participated in HI-Y? Whatever your involvement, we'd like to hear from you. Please fill out the Past Participant Data Form. We look forward to hearing from you.
Alumni CONNECT
e-mail and ask to join our mailing list to receive Alumni News, program information, volunteer opportunities and to stay connected. You can view the latest HI-Y Alumni Association newsletter online.We also have a February update to the list of alumni.
Join the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA Facebook Group by going to Facebook.com and registering to connect with other friends of the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA.
Remember Camp Nelson Dodd?
Camp Nelson Dodd opened in 1921 through an initial gift of land to the State YMCA of Ohio (a predecessor to the current Ohio-West Virginia YMCA chartered in 1984) by J. Foster Dodd. He gave family farm land near Brinkhaven in Knox County as a memorial to his youngest brother Nelson. The camp's last operating season was 1967. It was sold to the Newark YMCA who operated it for a few years and then closed the camp. In the early 1990's the Newark YMCA sold Camp Nelson Dodd to the Evans Foundation in Newark. The Foundation now leases the property to the Joy of Living Ministries.
Many former Camp Nelson Dodd campers have commented about their Camp Nelson Dodd experience. [Read their Comments].
If you were connected with Camp Nelson Dodd in some way, we want to hear from you. Please take a few moments to fill out the Nelson Dodd Participant Reply Form.
T he work of the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA extends back to 1867 in Ohio and 1909 in West Virginia. A pioneer in youth leadership development based on service-learning principles, this YMCA established local youth civic leadership groups throughout Ohio and West Virginia beginning in the 1920s.
HI-Y (HIgh School YMCA) is our priority. Local HI-Y teen experiences are enhanced by participation away from home in Youth in Government, Model United Nations and HI-Y Program Conferences.
Our HI-Y Leadership Center office is located in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. We operate Camp Horseshoe near St. George, West Virginia and we also own and operate Cave Lake near Latham, Ohio.
Summers at Camp Horseshoe are filled with nationally recognized teen Leadership-Service, Entrepreneurship, and HI-Y Leadership Summits. Children enjoy Adventure Camps, and Youth Opportunity Camps for low income children. Horseshoe is open year-round providing custom designed learning camps for schools and youth organizations as well as a place for other groups to hold their camps, reunions, workshops and outings. Next to Camp Horseshoe is the Horseshoe Recreation Area where we offer tent, RV, and small trailer camping for families.
Our newest program is the Cave Lake Center for Community Leadership, near Latham in Pike County, Ohio. These beautiful 700 acres now offer family camping. Our goal is to build a nationally significant residential facility and program focusing on civic leadership, the arts, entrepreneurship, stewardship and community building.
Our Mission
Helping youth develop leadership, character and citizenship skills for a life-long commitment to service is our mission.
We work to prepare new generations of responsible citizens; enable persons to direct their lives to achievement and responsible citizenship; strengthen and expand the base of effective civic leadership available to local communities; change conditions so youth, families, schools and communities achieve their potential; speak on behalf of children and youth; influence the course of education and touch the future through the hands of youth.
The Ohio-West Virginia YMCA, operating as the HI-Y Leadership Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
